Semi, Heavy and Medium Duty Truck Sales Expected To Rise In 2017

While new federal regulations and a new president, are cause for concern for some in the trucking industry, that's not the case for everyone. Manufacturers of semi, heavy and medium duty trucks and equipment are anticipating the new year for one simple reason, truck sales are expected to increase. Industry analysts are predicting that the new ELD mandates, infrastructure projects and energy policies all will have a positive impact on the sales of these vehicles and increase the need for drivers as well.

ELD Mandates

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has mandated that all heavy-duty trucks and semi's must be equipped with electronic logging devices (ELDs) by December 2017. These devices are intended to help drivers comply with the regulations for hours of service by capturing the movement of the vehicle and recording it. Experts say that it will have an impact on the industry by effectively reducing the amount of available capacity at any given time. Therefore, companies will need to add more trucks, and drivers, to their fleets to accommodate the current demand and any increases in the future.

Infrastructure

If Donald Trump comes through with his campaign promise to increase spending on infrastructure, it will be a boon to the medium and heavy duty truck market. With more work being done to improve the nation's roadways, there will be a corresponding increase in demand for heavy and medium duty trucks. They'll be needed to transport the necessary equipment, materials and supplies to the job sites. Experts say that everything from pick-up trucks to dump trucks, flatbeds and even cargo vans will be in higher demand. Unsurprisingly, there will also be increased demand for drivers and operators.

Energy Policies

It's no secret that Trump is a huge proponent of increasing production of oil, natural gas and other commodities in the United States. According to his website, he's going to release $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves within the country. In addition, he plans on tapping into hundreds of years in clean coal reserves. This kind of increase in production, he says, would equate to half a million new jobs and increases in salaries as well. It would also mean an increased demand for equipment, including medium and heavy duty trucks. While these policies are only proposals at the moment, it could become a reality once he takes office.

Only time will tell if these predictions will come true, however, there is strong evidence that some, if not all of these factors will have a beneficial impact on truck sales. Manufacturers are certainly hoping they will, as are trucking companies, and drivers. The benefits will be far-reaching, affecting the national and local economies, the unemployment rate, and the country's ability to weather the uncertainties that every presidential election brings with it.